Machine for handling bricks.



E. J. FRITSGH.

MACHINE FOR HANDLING BRICKS. APPLICATION FILED 00T.13, 190a.

Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

3 SEHHTSSHBBT 1.

. Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

' a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. J. FRITSGH.

awn eww w m saw I MAGHINE FOB HANDLING BRIGKS.

APPLIOATION FILED 00113, 1908.

B. J. PRITSGH.

' MACHINE FOR HANDLING BRICKS.

APPLICATION FILED OGT.13, 190B. 956,330, Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' a horizontal I layer is itself EDWARD J. rmrscn, or WIVLLOUGHBY, omo, ASSIGNOR 'ro orries THE AMERICAN onaY MACHINERY COMPANY, OF BUCY'RUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

MACHINE .FOR HANDLING BRICKS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 26, 1916- Application filed October 13, 1908. Serial No. 457,571.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD .J.-FRrrsoH, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Willoughby, in the county of Lake and State of Ohio,

chines for Handling fol-lowing is a speci cation, reference being bad therein to the accompanyingf'drawing;

This invention relates to a machine-for handling bricks, the same belonging to the or clamps may be projected.

Examples of machines of this class are seen in the Letters Patent for brick handling machines, No. 859,445, dated July 9, 1907, granted to William Henry Francis; the Letters Patent granted to William Henry and Charles Francis, for a brick handling machine, No. 859,586, dated June 9, 1908, and in my co-pending application for Letters Patent on brick handling machine, filed October 15, 1908, Serial Number 457,840. The method practiced in the mechanism in these various patents and in the application is itself covered 'in Letters Patent No. 874,582, of William Henry Francis, dated December 24, 1907, and relates to the handling of brick in bulk so'that they may betransported to any desired point without breaking the bulk. According to this method the bricks are hacked up in rectangular formation with uniform openings between the bricks of the basic layer to permit the lifting arms of'the machine to enter these spaces to carry the superposed load; while the basic picked up and carried along with the superlncumbent mass by means of gripping action caused by clamping devices arranged in connection with the lifting arms.

The object of the present invention is to provide simple, economical and efficient means for practicing thesame method and the inventlon consists in useful land novel means for grippin or'clamping the members of the basic Tayer of such a bulk or mass of bricks, and especially in gripping means automatically adjustable to irregularities in the surface, the thickness, or other dimensions of the bricks, and further in have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ma- BI'lCkS, of which the numerous details and peculiarities in the construction and combination of parts, substantially as will and'cla-imed; n the accompanying drawings illustratmachine; tom plan'view of the clamping mechanism, the vertical frame being removed. Fig. '3 is a side elevation in artial section. Fig. 4 is a sectional enlarged detail view, showing one of the fixed plates and one of the movable clamping plates on one side thereof, togetherwlth means for actuating both the clamping plates on opposite sidesnof a fixed plate. Fig. 5 is a bottom sectional plan viewv of the same. Fi 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view of t clamping plates, and the toggle mechanism for operating the latter. Fig. is an enbe hereinafter set forth tion of the entire Fig. .2 is a bothe fixed plate, the

larg'ed sectional view on the line 7, 7 of Fig.

6, certain parts being in elevation.

' j Similar'characters of reference desi ate corresponding parts throughout'thedi erent figures of the drawings.

In .Fig. 3, I have represented in dotted lines a stack of bricks with which my improved'brick handling machine is designed to operate. The bricks of the stack are piled so that'the members of the basic layer are spaced apart a uniform distance, say about an inch or. an .inch and a half. Into the several spaces between the members or units of the basiclayer'project a plurality of 'lifting arms 25 which consist of vertically arranged plates having at. the rear end an angular part 25 which is securely bolted or otherwise attached to the basebar '5 of the main frame of themachine. Each of'the liftingbars 25 is provided with a pair of clamping members pivotally sup orted at their centers on opposite sides. of t ,elifting bar 25 and adapted to be moved or less distance away from the. lifting bar 25, the arrangement and operation of which clamping plates will behereinafter fully set forth. The series of projectingliftingarm's is clearly shown in Fig.2, and the manner in which they are V members of the basic layer, so as to act under the supcrincumbent mass is fully indicated in Fig.3. Y a

The vertical main frame of the machine to which belongs the base bar 5 that carries secured thereto the series of horizontal liftextended between the.

a greater ing arms 25 may vary in a great variety of ways, and hence I expressly reserve the liberty of reconstructing and modif'yin the construction and arrangement of the frame within very wide limits. The specimen of the frame shown in the drawings, one which is found to be useful and sufficient for the purpose, comprises essentially two inclined bars 1, 1, a central vertical bar 2, to which the inclined bars are bolted near their upper ends, vertical straps 6, which are bolted to the inclined bars 1, 1, a transverse and horizontal bar 3, which is secured to the inclined bars 1, l at about midway of their height, and two triangular base frames 4c, which are bolted to the inclined bars 1 and also to the base bar 5. Thus all these parts are rigidly bolted together to form a unitary structure. Fastened to the side bars 1 are two upwardly extending lateral handles or loops 7 which are used for the purpose of manipulating the machine when it is being moved about. At the apex of the triangular frame thus constructed, there is a short lever or pair of levers 9 pivoted upon a horizontal bolt 8 which passes through the upper end of the frame. Lever 9 'is provided on its long end with an eye 10 pivoted thereto by means of a bolt 11, said eye being for the purpose of receiving the hook or other connection belonging to a traveling crane, hoisting machine, or the like. The other or short end of the lever 9 is pivoted to a vertical link 12, of which there are two, which pass downwardly alongside of the main frame and are designed to have the function of thrusting bars. The lower ends of the links 12 are pivoted to the inner arms of two elbow levers 13 which are fulcrumed upon bolts 14 passing through the cross bar 3 and also through the vertical straps 6 hereinabove alluded to. The lower members of the elbow levers 13 are provided with eyebolts 15, to which are connected the opposite ends of a horizontal spiral tension spring 16 which serves as a balancing device. At a point between the fulcrum 14 of each of the elbow levers 13 and its eye-bolt 15, there s pivotally connected a short vertical lifting rod 17. The two lifting rods 17 are bolted to a lift bar 18 and operate to lift the latter when the machine is in operation The lifting strain on the bar 18 is applied to a series of coiled springs 19 which surround vertical stems 20 and bear at their upper endsfagainst-washers and nuts 21 on said stems 20. The stems 20 pass downwardly through the bar 18. A handle 35,

consisting of a suitable loop, is attached to the front of the frame by being connected to the horizontal bar 3 where the fulcrum bolts 14 are located, which bar 35 as ists in manipulating the machine.

The lower ends of the various stems 20,

which project downwardly through the lifting bar 18, are pivotally connected to the 'upper arms of small bell crank levers 23 which are fulcruIned on a horizontal rod 22 supported in suitable bearings on the frontof the base bar 5; while the downwardly projecting arms of these bell crank levers 23 are pivotally connected to the ends of horizontal bars 2 1 which pass through suitable openings in the base bar 5 and operate in passages within the fixed horizontal lifting bars 25, as clearly shown in Figs. 4:, 5, 6 and 7.

-On'each side of, each of the fixed horizontal lifting bars 25 is a movable clamping plate. I have designated the two clamping plates of one pair as they are shown in Figs. 5 and 6 as 26 and 26*. At the middle point of the length of each of the clamping plates 26 and 26 the material thereof is cut away and folded over to provide horizontal cars '27 and 27* between which are pivoted the links or toggle levers 28, 28 which are likewise pivoted to each other and to the horizontal bar 24. The detailed construction and arrangement of the pivotal points and the toggle devices is best shown perhaps in Fig. 7, where it is seen that one of the clamping plates of the pair, as, for instance, the plate 26, has its pair of horizontal clamping ears 27 sufiiciently far apart to permit two toggle levers 28 to be pivoted between them bymeans of a pivot pin.29. These two toggle levers 28, the upper end the lower, receive between them a single toggle lever 28, one end of which is pivoted between the ears 27 formed on the clamping plate 26*, the pivoting being by means of aibolt or pin 30. Furthermore, the other end of the oggle 28 is pivoted to and between .the pair of toggles 28, 28 by means of a pin 31, and said pin also passes through the horizontal bar 24 so that the toggle device is pivoted to said bar, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The lifting bar 25 is not only provided with a longitudinal passage through which the bar 24 reciprocates when actuated by means of the bell crank lever 23; but it is also formed at a certain point with a lateral opening 32 which receives the inwardly pro ecting ears 27 and 27*, and accommodates the toggle devices 28 and 28 The first bar 25 is shaped interiorly near this opening 32 with a pointed cam-shaped member 33 which projects between the links 28 and 28, and also with a curved recess or concavity 3 1 i opposite the cam point 33, into which recess the links 28 and 28 can withdraw themselves when the clamping plates 26 and 26 are drawn close up against the sides of the fined lifting bar 25. Assumingf that the movable bar 24 is reciprocated in both directions at different times for the purpose of applying the clamp and also for relieving it, the course of the operation will easily be seen from the foregoing description of the parts: It will be evident that when the bar clamping plates pivotallysupported in con- 24 is drawn in one direction, the tog les 28 nection with each hftmg bar, and means for and 28* will be spread apart by the orcing actuating'sald clamps. thereof which will occur, which forcing will. 2. A machine for handling bricks, comtend to draw them at both sides of the cam prising a frame, and pairs of movable pivot 7 point 33 (see Fig. 6) and this will result ally sgpported clamping devices at the base in spreading the: clamping plates 26 and26 thereo adapted to be inserted between ad aaway'from each other and away from the cent bricks, each brick being held by the sides of the lifting bar 25. Converselywhen clamping action of two movable plates, and

10 the bar 24 reciprocates in the opposite direc-. means for'actuatingsaidrclamping devices. 75 7 tion, the toggles 28 and 28 will be drawn 3. A machine for handling bricks, comaway from the cam point 33 and delivered prising a vertically disposed frame, a series into the base of the concavity 34, thereby of lifting barsat the'base thereof, a pair of pulling the clamping members 26 and 26 movable clamps for each lifting bar, one

5 tightly against the outside facesof the liftmember of each pair being ivotally supso ing bar 25. As the clamping plates 26 and ported at each side of said lifting bar, and 26 are pivotally hung at their centers, it is a lever mechanism for laterally moving the manifest that their ends are free to adjust clamping plates. themselves to any irregularities and inequali- 4. A machine for handling bricks, comties in the thickness ofthe' bricks against prising a supporting frame, pairs oflater- 85 which they are in contact, and consequently ally movable clamping plates, means for bricks which are somewhat thinner at one pivotally supporting said plates near the end than at the other will be gripped just base of the frame, and means for moving as tight as bricks which are uniformly thick the clamping plates so that each brick may throughout. be held between two movable members. a 90- The operation of the machine will be evi- 5. A machine for handling bricks, comdent from the foregoing description of the prising a supporting frame, a plurality of construction and arrangement of the various pairs of movabl lamping plates at the base parts, After it has been located in proxthereof adapted to be inserted between adja- 1m1ty a mass of bl'lck prevlously set with cent,- bricks, and means for pivotally sup- 95 the basic layer properly spaced apart to acporting said clamping plates and for simulcommodate the lifting bars or fingers, the taneously moving both members of a pair. latter will be inserted in the spaces between i 6. A machine for handling bricks, comthe bricks, and then a derrick or hoisting prising a vertical frame, a series of lifting mechanism which connects with the eye 10 devices carried at the lower end thereof, a 100 at the top of the frame will lift the machine plurality of pairs of laterally movable and the entire mass of brick. The initial clamping plates arranged in connection with lifting movement imparted to the machine the lifting devices so that. two clamping through the lever 9 impresses the thrust plates are carried by each lifting device, a

; bars 12, vibrates the elbow levers 1-3, and reciprocating bar-for actuating the clamping 1 5 lifts the bar 18, thereby oscillating the variplates, and inter ivoted levers connected to ous bell cranks 23 to which the stems 20 are the bar and theclamping plates. connected and moving the rods or bars 24 I 7. A machine for handling bricks, comendwise, the result of which'is to spread the prising a vertically disposed frame, a series clamps 26 and 26 at the opposite sides of of lifting devices carried by the lower end the lifting bars 25. Thus theinitial lifting thereof, a pair of clamping plates arranged movement of the machine actuates the with its members on opposite sides of each clamping mechanism. As themachine lifts lifting bar, reciprocating means. for actuatit is obvious that thebars 25 raise the supering the clamping plates, and toggle devices '50 posed mass simultaneously with the clampconnecting said reciprocating means with 115 mg action 1 upon the bricks of the lower the clamping plates, together with means layer, and that said'clamping action is auto where y the initial lifting movement of the 'matically accomplished in the manner I frameactuates the reciprocating meansiand have specified. 1 operates the clamping plates.

Various changes in the exact construction 8. A machine for handling bricks, com- 129 and arrangement of the mechanical details prising a vertically disposed frame, lifting may be made to adapt the machine to the .bars carried thereby, pairs of clampin needs of individual cases without departing plates arranged in connection with the liftfrom the scope of the'claims. m'g bars, levers pivoted to each other and Having ,thus described my invention, to the clamping plates, a reciprocating bar 125 what I claim as new and-desire to secure by towhich the said levers are p1voted",\and a Letters Patent, is: k relatively stationary cam for spreading the 1. In a machine for handling bricks,'the levers and the clamping plates during the combination of a vertical frame, a series of clamping action.

lifting bars at the base'thereof, pairs xof 9. A machine for handling bricks, comprising a vertically tlisposeei frame, series,

lifting bars at the ease thereoi, pairs whereby the initial lifting movement or the machine will operate the clamping oiates,

clamping plates for cei anri cause them to clamp the bricks.

1%. A niacliine for iianclling bricks, com- 1; ising a vertically aisposecl frame, a plurality oi. lifting bars the base thereof, clamping plates on the opposite sides of each lifting bar, means located Within the lifting bar and! consisting of interpivoteri levers which are lilies" e pivoted. to the Within the liftare pivoted, a

latter, a reciprocating er ins bar to which said I stationary care. clevice revvise inside the lting bar and a recess oposite to the latsaicl earn an i recess cooperaei with levers their action A machine for handling bricks, comng a vertically (lisnosed frame, a ses lifting bars arra ecl near the base "lereof, laterally movable clamping plates opposite sicles of eac'r lifting liar, means supporting said. plates centrally so that the ends may lee free to adjust themselves, reciprocating cars for K ating saicl clamping plates, a series 01? crank levers operating saicl reciprocating ears, and means whereby the initial lifting movement of the machine will vibrate the ioell cranirs an cause the clamping planes to be actuated, said means including a series of springs for giving an elastic efiect to the operation.

12; A machine for handling bricks, comprising a frame, a series of lifting cars at the base thereof, airs of clamping plates pivotally supports at the s'ules oi" each liftn v supporting the,

eeaeeo ing bar, a recigrocating bar operating to cause the clamping plates to exert a clamping efiect, and means for actuating saicl reciprocating bar,

13. A machine for handling bricks, cornprising alirame, a series lifting bars at the base thereof, pairs of? clamping plates pivotally supportea in connection Wit saiol bars centrally of the length of the latter ancl adapted to be laterally movable, and means for moving saici plates -to them to exert a clamping eil'ect,

la r. A machine for hand prising a frame, a series the base thereof, clamp' in connection with the lilting bars, lievices for actuating t re clamping a stationary again nicli ti Work, ancl reciprocating prising a vertical bars at the thereoi illpll'l ranged in connection vane the llftifi toggles for a mating the clamping anol reciprocating bars Winch the are carried,

16 A macl prising a Era pivoteo to eacn other, a st in each lifting bar, and the interpivoierl levers from the cam,

in testimony whereof affix my signature in presence two Witnesses.

Ill-BEWARE a FRFESL- onary cam ns for n Witnesses:

FRANK PAUL, G. B Son Rosana, 

